12 held for theft at oil refinery project site

Odisha Channel Bureau Paradip, Nov 22: In the latest crackdown on structural materials theft from Paradip oil refinery project of Indian Oil Corporation, police have taken into custody dozen of persons on charge of committing theft of cable materials from the under-construction project site.It may be recalled here that similar theft of structural materials had been intercepted last week.Gaping holes in security mechanism of oil refinery project stood exposed even as the thefts of materials are being reported from the high-security prohibited territory of the project.“Acting on complaints lodged by IOCL authorities, police launched a drive and arrested five persons on charge of committing theft of scrap materials from prohibited refinery complex.Earlier, five persons were arrested two days back.The arrested persons had dumped the stolen materials in a water-body lying in close proximity of rear boundary wall of the project.Later they were smuggling out the consignment by country boats,” said Inspector Abhayachandpur police station Anirudha Routray.The theft had occurred during the strike of cyclone Hudhud and the culprits taking advantage of slack security then had committed the crime, police said.The under-construction Rs.30,000 crore refinery project is stretched across a vast expanse of 18 sq km boundary.Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is shouldering the responsibility of round the clock vigil of the project site.A contingent of 170 CISF personnel including officials is engaged in watch and vigil of the project complex.However the existing manpower strength of CISF is proving inadequate to guard the vast stretch of the project.As a result, cases of theft have become frequent, said company officials. A CISF official said “CISF is on alert to keep tab on security threat and occurrence of theft from the mega project site.We are in requirement of more personnel.The higher ups have been informed of it.The CISF would be strengthened with added manpower very shortly”. Since past one year, CISF has detected nearly a dozen of cases of theft and burglaries from the project site, the official added. The refinery project site has been brought under CCTV surveillance.However strategic project sites are covered under camera scrutiny.As the project area extends up to 18 sq km stretch, it is not quite possible to install CCTV in the whole area.CISF has its watch towers at 2 km distance, told the oil company officials.